Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif, (KESQ) – Police are searching for potential witness to question on a fire at a Prescott Preserve in Palm Springs over the weekend, Chief Andy Mills wrote on social media.

The fire burned 3.5 acres and nearly 100 palm trees Sunday afternoon in the area of Ramon Road and Farrell Drive. It’s being investigated as a potential case of arson, according to the Oswit Land Trust, who operates the Prescott Preserve.

Mills said a woman was seen about 20 minutes prior to the fire, who may have seen something. She was identified as a White Female Adult, 5’8” with blonde hair who was walking a small dog.  

He said she is not a suspect, but detectives would like to interview her.

Anyone with information is asked to call PSPD at (760) 323-8116.

If you’d like to help Oswit’s rebuilding efforts, visit: http://www.oswitlandtrust.org/donate

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Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Springs connection to the Epstein case. Palm Springs businessman Peter Mahler and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein messaging each other — revealed in newly unsealed federal records.

Justice Department files News Channel 3 has been going through show Mahler, operated a staffing company with a Palm Springs office, helped recruit potential employees for Jeffrey Epstein in 2013, five years after Epstein pleaded guilty to child prostitution charges.

Mahler has not been accused of wrongdoing, and there is no indication that any candidates recruited were victims of Epstein.

Mahler shared a statement exclusively to News Channel 3:

“While our firm doesn’t comment about the thousands of staffing searches and interviews we have conducted over the past three decades, I am making an exception under these circumstances. The revelations about Jeffrey Epstein are abhorrent. We were conducting searches for professional administrative staff and property management positions for Jeffrey Epstein. These ultimately failed because he did not like the qualified candidates we identified for him to interview. Knowing what we know now, we would never have worked with him under any circumstances.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Gunfire today in a Banning park prompted an immediate police response, but the parties doing the shooting fled before officers arrived, with no indications of injuries.

The “shots fired” call was received shortly before noon Thursday in Repplier Park, adjacent to the Playhouse Bowl in the 300 block of West George Street, according to the Banning Police Department.

“Witnesses in the park reported hearing shots and observing subjects running from the park,” police Capt. Brandon Smith said. “Officers … located expended shell casings at the location. The subjects involved in the incident were reported as being young adult males.”

There was nothing to suggest anyone was injured because of the gunfire, he said.

“Schools in the area were on brief lockdown but resumed normal operations after the scene was determined to be safe,” according to the captain.  

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information was asked to contact the police department at 951-922-3170.

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Shay Lawson

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Some Rancho Las Palmas Country Club homeowners are raising concerns about the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa bringing in heavy equipment, fencing, portable restrooms and piping a week ago without obtaining permits.

Lisa Christensen

Gabe Codding, Rancho Mirage Director of Marketing, confirmed the city issued a stop-work order as the proper permits had not been secured.

Codding added that, “Due to the ongoing nature of this active Code Compliance investigation, that is all the information we can provide at this time.”

News Channel 3 reached out to the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa.

In a statement a spokesperson said:

“Omni values its longstanding relationship with the Rancho Las Palmas community and is thoughtful about the future of the resort. No construction has begun at the property. Materials were delivered to the site, but Omni will not start work without all required permits. Permits have been delayed, and Omni is fully complying with the City’s stop-work order as the process moves forward. At this time, there is no confirmed timeline to resume work.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage as Shay Lawson speaks with concerned homeowners.

See the full report at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A free, family-friendly resource fair will be held next month in Indio for Coachella Valley residents looking for essential services and fun activities from local service providers and community organizations.   

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 7 at the Riverside County Department of Child Support Services Indio branch office, at 47950 Arabia St.

Attendees can expect a wide range of free services and activities, including child support services, family law support, legal aid and immigration services, food resources, mental health resources, free developmental screenings and immunizations, free bike helmets for children in need while supplies last, free haircuts for kids and families, and live music. The Mexican consulate will offer direct on-site assistance.   

To RSVP for the fair, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026IndioRSVP.   

To learn more, contact DCSS Indio branch office at 951-955-0899.

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Jesus Reyes

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – One person was displaced after a fire at a mobile home in Cabazon Thursday afternoon.

The fire was reported at a little after 1:20 p.m. on the 52000 block of Lois Ave.

The fire was contained at 2:25 p.m., CAL FIRE confirmed.

No injuries were reported, but one adult was displaced.

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City News Service

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – After claims on social media that an aircraft suspected of carrying 100 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents landed yesterday at Thermal Airport, Fourth District Supervisor Manuel Perez dispelled the information today as “unfounded.”

Perez said in a press release Thursday that after checking with the county’s Aviation Division and Desert Jet — an aviation business on-site — that the information was false.

Instead, two Department of Homeland Security aircrafts landed at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, at 56-850 Higgins Drive in Thermal, and carried only mechanics and flight crew personnel, with one plane set to leave at an unspecified time Thursday.

The information was crucial to “prevent unnecessary concern in the community,” Perez said.  

Anyone with questions may contact Perez’s office at 760-863-8211.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – This year’s Date Festival Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to 16 Riverside County high school seniors and season passes to the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, officials announced today.

Although 16 finalists impressed judges by the students’ academic achievement, leadership and community commitment, 10 finalists were named as scholarship recipients. Through a contribution of$6,000 by judges Becky Bailey- Findley and Gary Findley, the remaining six finalists were named as scholarship honorees and also received scholarships.

“This scholarship program is an investment in Riverside County’s students and the future of our community,” Chris Pickering, CEO of Pickering Events, said in a statement. “Each year, the interview process reinforces how much talent, heart and promise exists in our local schools.”  

The program awarded $2,000 scholarships to 10 seniors in the class of 2026, which will be distributed directly to each recipient’s college or university. In addition, all finalists are invited to participate in the Presidents’ Day parade on Feb. 16 as honored guests alongside local elected officials and community leaders.   

The following scholarship recipients named are:   — Bella Barone — Palm Desert — Palm Desert High School;   — Joanna Bushnell Crist — Indio — La Quinta High School;   — Preston Ellis — Palm Desert — Palm Desert High School;   — Emmanuel Garcia — Riverside — Ramona High School;   — Elizabeth Guerra –Indio — Indio High School;   — Erik Huerta — Mecca — Desert Mirage High School;   — Paola Miranda — North Shore — Desert Mirage High School;   — Kaden Ren — Riverside — Martin Luther King High School;   — Pratham Sanghu — Corona — La Sierra Academy, and   — Ines Yanez — Temecula — Temecula Preparatory School.

   The following were named as scholarship honorees are:   — Anahi Canesco — Jurupa Valley — Rubidoux High School;   — Jahzara Dansby — Lake Elsinore — Murrieta Mesa High School;   — Alexander Diaz — Indio — Indio High School;   — Mario Irrera — Indio — Indio High School;   — Rachel Anne Madrid — Aguanga — JCS-Pine Hills High School, and   — Roberto Sanchez — Indio — Indio High School.  

“Programs like the Date Festival Scholarship help open doors for students who are working hard to shape a better future for themselves and our region,” Supervisor Manuel Perez said in a statement. “It’s inspiring to see local institutions step up year after year to invest in education and opportunity.”  

The Date Festival will be held from next Thursday through March 1 at the county’s Fairgrounds in Indio.

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Garrett Hottle

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) Nearly 1,000 tax-delinquent properties across Riverside County are slated for public auction this spring, including hundreds of parcels located throughout the Coachella Valley.

According to county officials, 946 parcels have been selected and approved for the April tax sale, though that number is expected to decline as some property owners redeem their parcels before the auction date. Of those properties, 258 are located within the Coachella Valley’s nine cities, all within Supervisorial District 4.

County records show the highest-assessed parcels expected to move forward in the Coachella Valley are vacant commercial land, not residential homes. Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector Matthew Jennings confirmed that three of the most valuable parcels, with assessed values ranging from approximately $2.5 million to $3.5 million, are classified as vacant land. One of those parcels is a roughly 30-acre site in the city of Coachella.

The auction inventory includes a mix of vacant land and residential properties countywide. Of the 946 parcels approved for sale, approximately 228 are identified as having residential dwellings or structures, according to the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.

The County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office says the unusually large size of this year’s auction reflects a return to normal operations following several years of staffing shortages and economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The goal, county officials say, is to return long delinquent properties to productive, revenue-generating use to support public services. Properties included in the sale have typically exceeded the state’s statutory threshold for tax default.

Starting bids for some parcels begin as low as $100, though final sale prices can vary widely depending on location, zoning, and bidder interest.

KESQ will be speaking with the Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector later today for further clarification on the auction process, property impacts, and what this means for local communities. More details will be shared on News Channel 3.

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Timothy Foster

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – Preparations are already underway for one of the Coachella Valley’s biggest annual events, as crews work to get ready for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

The world-renowned tennis tournament is just weeks away, and setup is already transforming the area surrounding the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Temporary structures are being installed, parking areas are being finalized, and large-scale transportation plans are being implemented ahead of the two-week event.

One of the most visible signs of preparation is the arrival of hundreds of BMW vehicles. More than 300 BMWs are already staged on site and will be used throughout the tournament to transport players, officials, and VIP guests. The fleet is part of a large-scale shuttle and traffic management operation designed to keep movement smooth during one of the busiest times of the year in the desert.

The tournament is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, delivering a significant economic boost to the Coachella Valley. Local business owners say tourism during the tournament season is essential, with many relying on event-driven traffic to support operations through the slower summer months.

Last year, more than 500,000 people attended the BNP Paribas Open, generating more than $850 million for the local economy. Organizers anticipate another strong turnout this year as fans return for two weeks of world-class tennis and related events.

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open runs from March 1 through March 15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

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